Question
Am I right in thinking that you use the subjunctive plus не after бояться to indicate that you are afraid that something may happen?
So: Я боюсь, чтобы он не сломал себе руку - does this mean in English "I’m afraid he may break his arm / have broken his arm"?
Does Я боюсь, что он сломал себе руку mean the same?
Many thanks.
Answer
Hi John,
Some options are possible.
Я боюсь, что он сломает себе руку. I am afraid he may break his arm.
Я боюсь, что он сломал себе руку. I am afraid she has broken his arm.
Я боюсь, как бы он не сломал себе руку. I am afraid he might break his arm.
In the last case the probability is lower than in the first case. Yes, it is something like the Subjunctive mood in the Russian language.
More questions like this one
- The use of давай and давайте
- The translation of the Russian word преданный
- Учебник русского языка and Экзамен по русскому языку
- Adjectives in Neuter Singular
- Translation of the Russian noun лечение
- Difference between "оба" and "и то, и другое"
- Russian words конь and лошадь
- To describe what a person is wearing, the prepositional or accusative case is used?
- Accusative case with inanimate nouns in the plural
- Speaking Russian like a native
Do you have questions yourself? Ask us and we will be happy to help you!
Ask your question